Time-controlled bomb.



c. M. NGRDENSTAM, 1.4.

TIME CONTROLLED BOMB. APPLICATION FILED 050.22. m5.

PatentdSept. 24,1918.

INVENTOH 'arZ 111. j ordezvsianyfi WITNESSES Y E N R 0 T .1 A

CARL M. NORDENSTAM, JR, 0F BERTRAND, NEBRASKA.

TIME-CONTROLLED BOMB.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 2%, 1918.

Application filed December 22, 1915. Serial No. 68,259.

To all whom it may concern: 7

Be it known that 1, CARL M. NoRDnNs'rAM, J r., a citizen of the United States, residing at Bertrand, in the county of'Phelps and State of Nebraska, have invented""c'ertain new and useful Improvements in Time-Controlled Bombs, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to ammunition and explosive devices and more particularly to new and useful improvements in time-controlled bom'bS, the primary object of my invention being to afford vmeans whereby, without the use of an initially pro]ecting device, a time-controlled bomb may be delivered and causedto explode at a certain place and time Another object of my invention is to provide a device of the character above described which is simple in construction, cheap of manufacture, and simple and sure in operation.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the character above described provided with means for carrying the same to a point over that to which the bomb is to be delivered and thereupon releasing the bomb and allowing it to drop.

With the above and other objects in view my invention resides preferably in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter set forth in the specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of one form of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the releasing mechanism for the time bomb.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a modified form of my invention, and

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the same,

a portion of the device being broken away. Similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the various views of the drawings.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, in which the preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated, I provide means for carrying through space a tlme-controlled bomb, said means preferably comprising a balloon l or other body buoyant on air having means 2 at the lower end thereof for filling the same. A loop 3 extends from the lower end of the balloon 1 and serves to suspend the time bomb 4i, which may be of any preferred construction, wherein the same is exploded by striking an object. The

the top of the bomb 4 and provided with a handle or looped portion 8. The free extremity of the strip 6 is engaged by a hook 9 pivoted at 10 to the bomb 4, said hook being provided with a downwardly extending portion 11 engageable by a hammer or time-controlled lever 12, the lever 12 being preferably operated by a clock-work mechanism (not shown) carried in a container 13 on the outside of the bomb. In using this formof my invention the balloon is filled With gas or the like to render the same buoyant and the strip 6 is engaged with the loop 3, as shown to advantage in Figs. 1 and 2, thereby suspending the bomb from the balloon. Assuming that it is desired to drop the bomb at a point a known distance away from the sender the velocity of the Wind is determined and when this factor is known it is a simple matter to find the length of time necessary for an object to travel approximately the distance required when in the form of a balloon, as shown. The clock-work controlling mechanism is now set to operate at a future time and the bomb released. When theballoon has traveled the required distance, it, of course, being assumed that the balloon is of sufficient strength to carry the bomb to a predetermined height, and the required time has elapsed, the hammer 12 will engage the extension 11 of the hook 9, whereby to release the latter from the strip 6 allowing the bomb to drop. When the bomb strikes an object falling from a great height it is of course exploded performing its intendedfunctions. p

In Figs. 3 and 4 I have illustrated a modified form of my invention for use in delivering the bomb on water, obviating the necessity of using a balloon which might not be as accurate, since, for instance, a ship is a much smaller object to aim at in comparison to a line of trenches, therefore necessitating a much more accurate aim. The modified form of my invention comprises preferably a body 14 which is buoyant, said body carrying a time-controlled lever 15 adapted at a predetermined time to operate the hammer 16 of a bomb or similar explosive device 17;

An independent operating rod 18 extends from the forward end of the bomb 17 to actuate the same upon striking an object, should the time-controlled mechanism fail for any reason to operate. In order to propel the device any suitable means may be employed but I prefer to employ a square sail 19 supported by brace rods 20 and carried on the forward end of the body 14 to be actuated by the Wind traveling in a certain direction. The operation of this form of my invention is practically identical with the first form of my invention with the exception that the second form of my inven-u tion described is only adapted for use on Water.

It will be seen from the foregoing description and an inspection of thedrawing that by utilizing the elements when favorable I am enabled to del iver time bombs or similar explosive devices .to a predetermined point without the necessity of .an initial projecting device.

From the above description taken in com nection with the accompanying drawing it is thought that a clear and comprehensive understanding of the construction, operation and advantages of my invention may be readily gathered, and while I have shown and described the same as embodying a spe cific structure I desire that it be understooa that I may make such changes therein which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

In a device of the class described, the combination of an impact explosive member, a supporting member, a strip hingedly mounted upon the top of said explosive member and terminating adj acentthe side portion of the top of the explosive member, said strip having a looped portion intermediate its end, a substantially S shaped hook pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on the-side of said explosive member, the upper end of said hook engaging the free end of said strip, thus holding the looped portion in engagement with said supporting means, and a trip 'means carried upon said explosive member for engaging the remaining end of 

